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Progressivism in the Early 20 th Century

Progressivism A movement of upper and middle class reformers to change society through government action Use of Omaha Platform as guide, but mostly not populists Made up of: labor and urban reformers politicians from both parties “muckraking” journalists advocates of social reform

Issues in the Progressive Era Urban slums Child labor Political reform Aid to immigrants

Issues in the Progressive Era Woman suffrage Temperance/prohibition Conservation Regulation of trusts

The “Muckrakers” Journalists who exposed social problems and supported reforms with their articles Upton Sinclair and The Jungle (1906); problems of urban poor Ida Tarbell: The History of Standard Oil (1902) Frank Norris and The Octopus (1901); exposed the abuses of the railroad industry

The “Muckrakers” Lincoln Steffens: Shame of the Cities; exposed the political machines George Washington Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

The Jungle (1906) Sinclair intended to show urban poverty; instead, public focuses on conditions in the meat industry Leads to Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act

TR as Progressive Era President Background as reformer: Reformed civil service of NYC NYC Police Commissioner Governor of NY First major test: 1902 Coal Strike

1902 Coal Strike TR tries to mediate between strikers and owners in White House meetings Owners refuse to compromise; TR threatens to take over the mines for the workers: “To he** with the Constitution when the people need coal!”

1902 Coal Strike Owners initially refuse, then compromise as TR calls up the Army to take over the mines TR calls this “the Square Deal”, becomes trademark of his administration

TR the Trustbuster! Regulation, not destruction, of “good” trusts; definition of “good” and “bad” trusts Use of Sherman Anti-Trust Act against corporations First target: the RRs

TR Takes on the Robber Barons Empowers the Interstate Commerce Commission to govern “uncooperative” trusts

TR vs. Morgan TR takes on Northern Securities, controlled by Morgan; first trust broken up by Supreme Court Trusts not “busted”: Standard Oil US Steel The “gentleman’s agreement”

1904 Election TR crushes Alton Parker, promises not to run for third term Debs runs for 1st time

TR the Conservationist TR sets aside millions of acres for preservation with the Newlands Act Creates national parks (i.e. Yosemite) 1885

The Panic of 1907 Bank began to fail rapidly; Morgan creates a group to stabilize banking system Leads to creation of flexible currency and the Federal Reserve (1913)

1908 Election TR anoints W. H. Taft successor Defeats William Jennings Bryan! regrets promise of no 3 rd term; retires to hunt big game

The Legacy of TR Made presidency center of govt. power; expanded presidential power and authority Involved govt. in the lives of the people; trustbuster, govt. regulator Made US international power

William Howard Taft Background: governor of the Philippines TR’s Secretary of War later, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Continued progressive reforms Expanded trust-busting efforts Expanded conservation efforts 17 th Amendment passed – direct election of Senators

Taft and “Trust- busting” Taft did not recognize “good” or “bad” trusts Broke 77 in all, including Standard Oil and US Steel Broke “gentleman’s agreement” on trusts; angered TR and motivated him to run for 3 rd term

“Dollar Diplomacy” Expansion of Roosevelt Corollary: protection of US investment and people, worldwide First use in Latin America; i.e. Nicaragua,1909 Most controversial: Morgan’s Manchurian RR in 1911

Problems in the Taft Administration Too progressive or not progressive enough for Republicans Overshadowed by TR Seen as not being own man but TR’s puppet Conflict between TR and Taft over Taft’s breaking of “gentleman’s agreement” on US Steel